Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/32 PREMIUM COLLECTION Air Power Series HA0200 Douglas SBD 3 Wade McClusky “Battle of Midway” 1942

Designed as a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, various versions of the Dauntless served during the war with the US Marine Corps, Army and Navy. The Douglas Dauntless was the workhorse of the US Navy in the Pacific. The Dauntless dive- bomber was the only plane to fight in every major Pacific engagement. The SBD-3, sarcastically nicknamed “Speedy Three”, entered service in March 1941 with production ending in July 1944, by which time a total of 5,936 had been built in all versions.

June 4, 1942 LCDR C. Wade McClusky led aircraft to locate the Japanese Fleet off Midway Island. When they arrived the enemy had gone so McClusky made a history altering decision. He guessed correctly where the Japanese Fleet was and his Group attacked and sank two carriers. Two Zeros attacked and his gunner W.G. Chochalousek managed to down one plane but 55 bullets ripped through the Dauntless wounding McClusky but not harming the gunner. He nursed the plane back to the Enterprise and later was awarded the Navy Cross. I’ve been advised that as of June 20, 2014 W.G. Chochalousek is age 99 and doing well.

SBD-3 specifications Dimensions: Length: 32 ft., 8 in. Height: 13 ft., 7 in. Wingspan: 41ft., 6 in.

Weight: Empty: 6,345 lb. Gross: 10,400 lb.

Power Plant: One 1,000 horsepower Wright R-1820-52 engine Performance: Maximum Speed: 250 M.P.H. Maximum Range with Bomb Load: 1,345 miles Service Ceiling: 27,100 ft.

Crew: Pilot and gunner/radio operator Armament: Two fixed forward-firing .50-in. guns, Two flexible-mounted rear-firing .30-in. guns, 1,200 lb. of ordnance

THIS IS HOBBY MASTER’S FIRST OFFERING IN 1/32 SCALE

Premium Collection 1/32 Scale airplanes Limited Edition only 900 world-wide Features Movable rear gun Working dive brakes, rudder & ailerons Engine cowling can be removed Rotating metal propeller Sliding canopy Retractable undercarriage Rolling wheels Movable centerline bomb rack Bombs under each wing Realistic looking crew L - 12.4 in (315mm) W - 15.75 in (400mm) H - 4.8 in (122mm) Weight - 1.98 lb (900g)

THESE PICTURES AREN’T THE FINAL PRODUCT. THESE ARE PICTURES TAKEN OF THE MODEL DURING THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE.